By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

As Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes packed Wednesday for a free agent visit to Buffalo, the Bengals continued talking to players who might take his spot.

A source close to Spikes confirmed the Bills' interest in the five-year pro, who is an unrestricted free agent.

FREE AGENCY: DAY 6

Bengals free agent action Wednesday: • CONFIRMED: Linebackers Mike Peterson (Colts) and Kevin Hardy (Cowboys) and cornerback Denard Walker (Broncos) visited. • UNCONFIRMED: Cornerback Tory James (Raiders) arrived for an official visit today. Linebacker James Darling (Jets) is expected, too. • GIVE AND TAKE: The agent for defensive tackle Sam Adams and Bengals officials continue to exchange contract figures.

The Bengals confirmed Wednesday visits by free agent linebackers Mike Peterson (Colts) and Kevin Hardy (Cowboys).

The Bengals placed their transition tag on Spikes on Feb. 11. It means the team has the right to match any offer made to him but has to guarantee Spikes a one-year salary of $4.85 million. That number is the average of the top 10 salaries for NFL linebackers.

Buffalo president and general manager Tom Donahoe was traveling Wednesday and unavailable for comment, a Bills spokesman said. Reports out of Buffalo have said the Bills were preparing an offer sheet for Spikes.

Spikes led the Bengals in tackles four of the last five seasons. When the Bengals played Dec. 29 at Buffalo, Bills fans cheered Spikes and yelled that they hoped to see him in a Buffalo uniform.

The Bengals are preparing for the possibility of playing without Spikes.

"Our linebacker is still a free agent, so we still have to look," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said earlier this week.

The Bengals also have talked to the agent for Bills linebacker Keith Newman.

If Spikes were to leave, the Bengals might move Brian Simmons from middle linebacker to the outside. Simmons is fast enough for the outside spot and played the position in college at North Carolina.

Spikes also has drawn interest from New Orleans, Jacksonville, Philadelphia and Green Bay - where he would be reunited with Mark Duffner, his former position coach who now coaches the Packers' linebackers.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com